#ArtLitPhx: JAZZ meets POETRY: Tribute to Gil Scott-Heron

This month’s JAZZ meets POETRY event is a Tribute to Gil Scott-Heron, and will be held at The Nash (110 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix, Arizona 85004) on April 26 from 7:00-10:00 pm.

JAZZ meets POETRY is a new series at The Nash for 2017-2018 that places poets and jazz musicians center stage to make art that is expressive, interactive and captivating.

Part theatre part concert, this performance tributes Gil Scott-Heron — considered to be “one of the most important progenitors of rap music” (AllMusic’s John Bush) — with original poetry, spoken word and musical accompaniment provided by The Nash Music by The Geibral Elisha Movement.

SPECIAL GUEST: Brooklyn, NY-based artist Tai Allen, who released a book and soundtrack project — No Jewels — in 2017. In 2010, his album “Easy Readin’” was awarded Album of the Year by the National Poetry Awards. He is a member of the National Black Writers Conference Steering Committee and has also served as the Conference’s Poetry Cafe host. Allen also is creative director for Arts+Crafts, where he curates an annual Tap+Cork Brooklyn Beer & Wine Fest, and creates performance opportunities for emerging artists, djs and poets.

Advance tickets: $15, $8 Students (25 & under with ID). At the door: $20, $10 Students (25 & under with ID).

#ArtLitPhx: Sparky Slam Poetry Competition

ASU is hosting their inaugural Sparky Slam poetry event emceed by the spoken word poet Tomas Stanton of Phonetic Spit. Sparky Slam is a valley wide poetry contest for students in grades 5 through 12, with a writing workshop that is taking place immediately before the competition. The purpose of the Sparky Slam is to welcome young people onto a college campus, to celebrate youth voices, and to provide young artists with writing support from ASU faculty and students.

Poets will perform an original poem, a maximum of 3 ½ minutes in length and there will be at least 20 performers.

Sparky Slam will be held at ASU’s West campus Herberger Young Scholars Academy Black Box Theatre on Saturday, February 3rd. Poets check-in is at 4:45 p.m. and the Slam begins at 6 p.m. Arrive early as seating will be limited.

For more information or registration click here